Resources for Respondents

A "respondent" or "responding party" is someone designated to respond to a report submitted to the Title IX Office.  Generally, the Respondent is someone alleged to be responsible for behavior that is in violation of the university's Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment, Misconduct, and Violence Policy which may be found in Life on the Bluff.

If you are contacted by the Title IX Office, it's important to keep in mind that the Title IX Office is not taking action at that time, but rather would like to meet with you to follow-up on the report and further discuss the situation.  When you meet with the Title IX Office initially, you will not be required to provide a response or any information that day, but will instead be given time to prepare and submit your response to the report at a later day.

If you have been accused of sex discrimination, sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or other gender-based harassment, the following information may be useful.

Respondents can receive support from a designated and trained staff member, Jeromy Koffler, for respondent support.  Jeromy serves as the Director of Student Activities at UP and is experienced in the Title IX process. His position allows him to provide support to respondents with the holistic support needed to participate in a Title IX or student conduct investigation. He can assist students in connecting with resources and help them navigate the process as it progresses.

The goal of respondent support is to support engagement and understanding of the process while also addressing emotional and academic well-being.

Jeromy can address questions, concerns, or issues, or accompany you to any meeting regarding all parts of your experience as a respondent, including: 

• When you first receive the Notice of Investigation letter
• Having your first investigation interview
• Participating in an Alternative Resolution (AR)
• Having your first meeting with a conduct officer
• Needing clarification on sanctions or student conduct outcome and completion
• Filing an appeal

Respondent support is a non-confidential resource, however, the staff member proving this support is not involved in the decision-making or coordination of the case. Information shared with respondent support is limited, and students who work with respondent support are only asked to share information and documentation that they wish to share.

The role of respondent support is different that a process advisor. A process advisor is someone who you can select to guide you through the process by assisting you with making decisions and who can share their thoughts and opinions on what you should do. A process advisor can be someone of your choosing from outside the University or can be provided to you by the University. Respondent support will never provide you with their opinion or try to persuade you to make any choice.

If you’d like to connect with Jeromy Koffler related to respondent support, please email at koffler@up.edu, or contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Wondering what a Title IX investigation looks like? Click here for frequently asked questions or here for an easy-to-understand process flowchart (see below). 

Learn about your rights when a Title IX report is submitted.

You may view all our visual overviews and process flowcharts here.

Review in-depth information on Title IX. 

You can read the full Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment, Misconduct, and Violence policy, which includes information regarding the student conduct process, informal, and formal resolutions.

Being involved in the Title IX process may be stressful and challenging. Find someone to talk to on the Resources page.